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BLINDMAN (1971)

Now I'm sure most of you know about Superman, Batman, and Spiderman, but how many of you know about that western hero called Blindman? You know. That ugly looking twat who kept on bumping into things in this 105 minute movie made in 1971! It was Directed by Ferdinando Baldi, and Starred: Tony Anthony, Ringo Starr, Lloyd Battista, with Magda Konopka.

Hey! Domingo (Lloyd Battista). Stop clowning around with
your banditos, amigo. Come over here because I have something I want to show
you.

Now do you see what I have in my pocket? No. Not my pocket
with my gun in, silly. I'm talking about my other pocket. The one with a piece
of paper in it! Well, on this piece of paper is a written contact that states I've
got to take those fifty women you've kidnapped back to Texas
with me. And you, being the nice Mexican gringo that you are, are going to
allow me to do just that.

Huh? What's that you say, Domingo? You'd rather go blind
than allow me to do such a thing? Ha! It's funny that you should mention being
blind, because I am you know. I am a Blindman (Tony Anthony). And if you don't
do as I say, I promise you that you will never see your Brother Candy (Ringo
Starr) alive again. Cause I've kidnapped him whilst he was trying to mess
around with that very pretty blonde lady called Dolce (Magda Konopka).

Still. I suppose that's why what next transpires all goes to
pot when you double cross me and I end up in the slammer with a sleazy general
(Raf Baldassarre). As two prisoners contradict - fifty women get licked - a
brother won't go to Eton - and at the end of the day the
blind man who shoots first won't get beat-on.

THE REVIEW:

What stuck me nigh on straight away when I first sat down
and watched 'Blindman', was how this film came across like a second-rate Sergio
Leone knock off. Now I'm sure you know the type of thing I'm referring to,
folks. As it had all of that over-the-top operatic music, complemented by the slow
pacing, the flimflam story-line, plus the close-up / far-away style of camerawork.

However, once I allowed myself to just go along with the
flow, suddenly, I saw this film in a much better light. You see, without
putting too finer point on it, if you put to one side the rather substandard
production values, what you'll find is that this is a pretty good Spaghetti
Western that isn't that bad.

Granted, I myself wasn't very keen on how the main protagonist
handled himself throughout this adventure. In many ways he wasn't very heroic,
and he kept on getting himself into the same sort of predicament time and time
again.

For example, first he would bumble on into an arduous situation. Then
he'd get beaten up and captured by his opponents. And finally, he'd somehow
manage to make an escape before doing the said-same thing again, and again, and
again.

Admittedly, not everything with this flick is all doom and
gloom. On the reverse side of my negativity, I have to say that I did enjoy watching
the performances of all the main players -- particularly a dubbed Ringo
Starr -- who looked and seemed very Mexican I thought. Plus in contrast to
what I've said previously, I did warm up to the 'Blindmans' more jovial and humane
antics. Like how his horse acted like a guide-dog for instance, as well as how
he always came up with a witty one liner during times of stress.

But apart from that, though... well... yeah... this isn't a
bad film all in all. And it did have a very pleasant way about it that was one
part innovative and one part charming. Here, folks. Check out these filmic-facts
for something else just as charming. (1) 'ABKCO Music and Records' first
screened this production in Italy,
on the very same day a man-made earth-slide killed fifteen people in Kawasaki,
Japan -- the 15th of November, 1971. (2) Loosely
translated, this project was entitled 'The Punisher Blind' in Brazil;
'The Blind Avenger' in Denmark;
and 'Blind Killer' in Finland.
(3) The majority of this movie was shot at 'Cinecittà Studios', Italy,
as well as throughout numerous parts of Spain,
most notably, in Almería, Andalucía. (4) Ferdinando Baldi, who directed this
flick, was in the business from 1953 to 1988, and in total he has directed nearly
forty films throughout his noted career. (5) Not only did Tony Anthony and Lloyd
Battista play the two title roles in this adventure, but on top of that, they
also co-wrote it with Vincenzo Cerami and Pier Giovanni Anchisi. (6) Ten years
after this movie was unleashed -- 1981 -- Tony Anthony, Lloyd Battista, and Ferdinando
Baldi decided to remake it anew. This time, though, they did it without the
rest of the cast associated with the original production. It was called 'Comin'
at Ya!', and it was done in 3D. (7) The tagline used to promote this picture,
was, 'Blindman, Blindman, what did he do? Stole 50 women that belong to you'. (8)
After this Western doffed its sombrero, Tony Anthony starred in the Italian
crime-drama, 'Piazza Pulita'; Ringo Starr starred in the David Essex musical,
'That'll Be the Day'; and Lloyd Battista starred in the ongoing television
series, 'Love, American Style'.

Overall I'd say 'Blindman' was a movie that sorely needed a
pair of spectacles. The story-line had no sense of direction. The actors seemed
to eventually find there way. Yet at the end of the day I'd bet by bottom
dollar Sergio Leone his good self wouldn't be too keen on how this movie lost
its focus.

Nuff said.

THE RATING: B+

BLINDMAN (1971)
Reviewed by David Lee Andrews
on
March 19, 2014
Rating: 5